The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-11

|, he rode on horseback from the sight OF
bis claim in the edge OF the woods to Spring
field and bid it ia" at the government land
sale In the summer of 1888. His first cabin
in the west, on the land thus bought, stood
on the edge of Crow Creek timber, not far
from the present pretty little village OF
Washburn. In the neighborhood Of his old
home In Pennsy lvania, and all through the
Countrywide Quaker state there were
numerous citizens Of this meek and benevo'
lent sect. And while reasonably content
with their lot among the hills and valleys,
upon the rocky lodges and stony ravines
vet there came to them continually, from
others who had gone before, accounts PAIN
ed in dazzling colors Of a country where m
ture had apparently capped the climax OF all
her efforts in making paradise for the lab
orer; where trees grew not, nor roots wound
their sinuous and stubborn courses through
the soil; where rugged stumps reared not
their hated forms ia the meadows; where
rocks and stones abide not, nor logs hide IL
the fields, nor holes nor bogs nor hills
abound, out where deep alluvial soil stretches
miles away beyond the line Of vision, and
tall luxuriant grass, natures own free mea
dow. in wave after wave, upon the prairie
sea present pictures Of luxuriant grandeur
II known TO men Of the eastern hills and
bolloys. So, even the meek and humble
Onakers. who abominate cOveteo"sness and
and advocate patient industry and believe IN
aboring and in waiting. So it came to pass
that large
COLONY OF QCAKERs
Came west and had settled on and about Ok
bow prairie Before Mr.. Lewis had left the
hills Of Pennsylvania many Of the society OF
friends had struck across the wilds of Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois for Magnolia and had
arrived and built their cabins and were duly
acclimated by the mosquitoes and the ague
The settlement Of the society OF friends went
on increasing in numbers and spread of ter
ritory, and soon meeting house of logs was
built near Clear Creek, and the fame thereof
went out afar, and all Quakers who had
been seduced from their hard lives among
the rocks and crags, hills and holes of the
east by the broad, ricn and pleasant prairle'
and the certainty of wealth and ease in Hi
nois, land Quakers after all are bat mem
attracted any, so they came to the common
center-ihe Quaker Settlement" Mt Magno
liza, and there settled and led peaceful, quiet
lives, and grew rich, and number among the
best of our western people. And they held
their quaint form of worship, meeting in the
old log house, till later they built more
pretentious edifce, which stands to this dry
There they have met Sunday after Sunday
for nearly two generations, the women seated
on one side of the room and the men on the
other. Bm not, as often reported, often sit
ting in silence for an hour, they have dis
persed without the slightest exercise. be
cause "the spirit failed to move some one tt
speak, for they usually have excellent con
gregational singing. Some one reads from
the scripture, anil comments are often made
upon the lessons read. Their lives are peace
full happy and contcnted. The old ladies
are the most beautiful in the world, for by 0
% tlnp vnyarpiuu thI
tongue and subduing the temper, never fret
ting or "worriting keep their faces
serene and defy the wrinkles Of time. Ii
their girhood they wore no pegheelec
shoes, nor did they paint nor enamel theii
cheeks, nor poison their lips nor eye.lils
nor eat chalk or arscnic' Neither did they
wear thin shoes nor expose their persons Il
cold or damp air because of scanty dress
nor did they keep late hours, nor did they
torture their waists to make them small no
pinch their hands or feet. Their lives hav
been industrious, quiet, unimpassioncd
healthy, sensible; and so in THEN old days
instead of being repulsiye, withered hays
they are sweet, beautiful angelic, such dear
kind, aiiectionate thoughtful old ladies II
nowhere else are seen. And the men, toe
for the most part, share with their sisters il
happy lives and serene and handsome oil
age The fame Of MIR. Jehu Lewis rs II goo,
man and n trustworthy "friend' preceede
him to his new home and hardly had he es
tablished himself at Clear Creek before
delegation of leading brothers from tn
Quaker Settlement came and urged hin
to remove into that locality. He soon con
scented, and sold his farm to Esq. Barnes,
well known citizen, since dead, whose so
Thomas, wealthy resident cf iacon, re
Gently cut Hon. Samuel h. Lewis a fine hicb
DRY cane from his fathers old farm, pres
ent which MIR. Lewis values highly.
Mr.. Jehu Lewis bought a nice piece G
land near Magnolia, and soon had it under
state Of fair improvement
HIS FIRST SIGHT OF THE WEST.
About 1924 and % he was associated wit
! Mr.. Jonathan knight. who was appointed b
! the government to locate the "Old Nation,
} Road" from Wheeling Va, to st. Louis. G
Alton, Ill. Jehu was a whole season wit